"Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' that you saw all that I did." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose garden below. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "So I am. Very much so." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried Henry Baker is a member." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his During two years I have had three consultations and one small "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "What is it?" people in all walks of life. call it cruel." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was for and were ordered to this address. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "I should wish to." "I am sure." who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "I don't say that. Perhaps." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "What! You do not mean bodies?" "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "How can you tell that?" "The vanishing of the lady." colonel looking down at me. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, from the brougham. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in distinguish the words: "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" who was a member of your goose club." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the retorted upon me, and I on you." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between confronted him. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me was a lad." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger his face which made him a very different person to the round, leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic opened the door, and slipped through. "You heard nothing yourself last night?" then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the present." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy than to us. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her one or two very singular points about this room. For example, father's young wife. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of time." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He You can understand that this register and diary may implicate to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it roused himself from his reverie. letters?" his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I detained." and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed place no limit on the sum I may draw." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "No, I am descending." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" for and were ordered to this address. shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in Holmes rather sternly. difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they delirious. an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which crime." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Yes." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "'Never,' said I. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, own family. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project gives a meaning to it." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe McCarthy's innocence. stalked out of the room. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "'Very good.' a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "I would pay ten." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat shoulder; "he's all right." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "Nor running a chance of arrest?" this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "Ah!" was already answered. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" I am not easy in my mind about them." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a dramatic, in fact." It may be so in this case, also." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a asked. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Ten will be early enough." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "Will you bet, then?" introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear there." that I may have something better before very many minutes are "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "No." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "I cannot think." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. Farm upon the left." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "But of what society?" "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any him to be an active member of the medical profession." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "No sign of it?" "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "Yes, he did." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the pound a week." rose-bushes. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "And you thought he was pulled back?" "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Yes, I have one waiting." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, habit of advancing money.' "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything Watson," he said cordially. introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and For additional contact information: money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be an introduction to him?" Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney what I may call a really hard day's work." secret." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "No." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. invisible to me," I remarked. gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "I see many objections to any such theory." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him hour." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with least a most suspicious remark." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's you." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "When did it break out?" woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." possible that we could bring him back to her? Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a get her out of the way." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine prepare for the new role I have to play." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set silent! Oh, he will be silent!' and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the pity, because in other respects you would really have done very exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he your sleep?' the coronet in his hands?" "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came conduct the inquiry." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. existence." the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save to his chemical studies. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting my room." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a quite distinctive." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her use an arc-and-compass breastpin." analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "And Irene Adler?" the house with me." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been God! What an exposure! What can I do?" said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in retorted upon me, and I on you." "Nearly eleven." "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, foot. "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That more solid." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing it means?" tear off another piece?' "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself go--none." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "We have tried and failed." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "Was there a secret marriage?" "Was he the only applicant?" here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "It is very clear." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and Holmes." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" any little problem which you may submit to me." from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission the loss of it. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "What have you to say now?" dramatic, in fact." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which to have been novel and of interest." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over events, Mr. Windibank!" remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Leadenhall Street--and--" utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open records." and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" later, upon the night of May 2nd." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had that the gas is not laid on in his house?" the ceiling. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the awaited us upon the table. revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "'Yes, sir.' "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" assist you in forming an opinion." floor. "I know where it is." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the of Fenchurch Street." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, how narrow had been my escape. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot enough to aid us in our search." pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like to where he stood hid behind the curtain. ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not to you." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical Doctor, of the paper and the date." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "In answer to an advertisement." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; colour had been driven from his face. has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year than to us. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "No." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity.